January 31, 2015

Honorable Stanley R. Chesler, U.S.D.J

United States District Court

Frank R. Lautenberg U.S. Post Office & Courthouse

2 Federal Square

Newark, New Jersey 07102

 Re:       United States. V. Gary Vitta

            Crim. No. 15-01

Dear Judge Chesler,

            I am writing this letter on behalf of my father, Dr. Gary Vitta, in an effort to shine a light on his character, beliefs and convictions. I cannot begin to express in words what this situation – this unfortunate, naive mistake- has done to my father as a person. He is shaken to his very core. In my 32 years, my family has been through the natural trials and tribulations that any family would go through, however I have never seen my father so distraught as in these recent months. Perhaps, it is partly due to the fact that it is of his own doing and misjudgment.

            For as long as I can recall, my father was always a great teacher. Beyond the professional sense of the word, my father would constantly strive to enforce the power of education in my sister and I from a very young age. Our house was filled with play, but first came work. As a child, you don’t really appreciate the gift of education and the important foundation it provides. My sister and I would reluctantly do what we were told (i.e., reading, extra math problems, puzzles) in order to get our prize at the end – to play.  As we grew, we began to understand why our dad placed such an emphasis on learning. He didn’t have to spend his extra time enforcing this, but he did.  This was his passion. This is what he loved – watching young minds explore, grow and develop. Today, I am trying to incorporate the same love for learning in my daughter and I intend do the same with my unborn child.

            My father always taught my sister and I the value of a dollar. We never wanted for anything growing up, but we were very much aware of how hard he had to work in order for us to be comfortable. By no means were we given anything extravagant, but we always took family vacations and we were always involved in extra curricular activities – sports, camps, and dance competitions.  As we grew, things like going to college and all the “bells and whistles” that come along with that right of passage were a “given”. I remember he always would say, “Of course Mom and I will cover your school books and lab fees but anything extra, like ordering out is on you”. Being the typical 18 year old, initially I put up a fight, but then realized he was right. Why should he have to pay for my take-out when a meal plan was included in the cost of tuition?

He also single-handily steered me onto the best career path, before I even realized it myself. He provided me with the guidance a 18 year old so desperately needs (and wants) at a critical time when it would have been much easier to choose a different major. I chose physical therapy – a Master’s program at the time, which required arduous schooling with subjects like neuroscience, kinesiology, pharmacology, etc. I spent my days in class and nights in the library when most of my friends and future husband were out having fun. I was about to switch majors when he said for me to “trial a day in the business world with your aunt in New York City before you do anything”. I did. It was awful. This one piece of advice was probably the best advice he has ever given me. He made me re-focus on my goals and gave me renewed faith that I could succeed as a physical therapy major and go on to bigger and better things – helping people. I did achieve this goal, graduating with honors, and, with his guidance once again, attaining my doctorate in the field after doing clinical work for a year.  My husband has said to me on a few occasions how he wished he had the guidance from his parents like that I received from mine.  I consider this a compliment and a testament to their belief system.

            I have witnessed first hand my father’s compassion for others and his willingness to always help a friend. He has assisted a few of my personal and close friends in their professional careers with advice- whether through emails, phone or face to face conversations- and letters of recommendations in an effort to help these people achieve their career goals. He certainly did not have to do this but he wanted to.  I am always at awe at how many people he considers close friends. He has kept the bond of friendship strong with many, over decades of time and through moving personal space and professional positions. He is constantly reaching out to those people to make sure everything in their lives is going well and, if not, how he can be of assistance. 

            Moreover, he loves his volunteer work with underprivileged students in Morris School District.  He was in a position of leadership for so many years, however I truly believe the classroom is his passion. He calls me every Monday evening after his sessions are over and seems a little more upbeat with a renewed sense of purpose – something my family and I have not witnessed in many, many months. It gives me hope that the man who nurtured me as a child, guided me as an adolescent and supports me as an adult, is not all lost.

            It is devastating to watch your father crumble before you. This man, who is supposed to be the backbone of the family and a pillar of strength, has been shattered to pieces. He has been shaken to his core.  I cannot emphasize this enough. I know he is whole-heartedly sorry for his indiscretion and has been a prisoner in his own body since the beginning of this terrible ordeal.  When my husband and I were first told of this news, but before we knew specifics, we both thought my father was facing a terminal illness. That is how grave the situation has been. Once we found out the details, we have tried to be as supportive and positive as humanly possible. He has been embattled every hour of every day of the past 11 months.  I fear he cannot take much more. I beg you for your leniency and your mercy during the sentencing process. I urge you to see all the good my father has done for his family and friends and please not take this one, wrongdoing and lack of good judgment to define his character.

 Respectfully Yours,

  Dr. Alyson V. Leloia